Mavericks vs. Lakers score, live updates: Luka Dončić takes on Dallas for the first time since blockbuster trade to Los Angeles

Posted by author February 26, 2025 Sports

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The dust has settled on the NBA landscape since the landmark Luka Dončić-Anthony Davis trade that shook the league. Now, for the first time since the blockbuster deal, the Mavericks and the Lakers will meet Tuesday night in Los Angeles. Since the deal, Dončić has been trying to find his footing, averaging 19.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game on 39% from the floor in four games. The Lakers are 2-2 in those contests, with Dončić putting up his best performance since the trade in Saturday’s win over the Denver Nuggets. Meanwhile, Anthony Davis played just one game for the Mavs — a 26-point, 16-rebound effort — before being sidelined with an adductor strain.

The Lakers are still in the thick of the Western Conference playoff hunt at 34-21 on the season and leading the Pacific Division. Los Angeles is 2 1/2 games back of Memphis and Denver for the No. 2 seed in the West, while Dallas, at 31-27, is tied for seventh in the West with Minnesota and trying to climb out of the play-in tournament during the stretch run.

Date: Feb. 25, 2025

Time: 10 p.m. ET

Location: Crypto.com Arena | Los Angeles

TV channel(s): TNT, TruTV

Streaming: Max, DirecTV, Hulu with Live TV and more

Follow along with Yahoo Sports for live updates, highlights and more.

Live48 updates

Wed, February 26, 2025 at 5:16 AM GMT+1

Even after that Max Christie-fueled closing kick, the Mavs end the first half scoring one point per possession. If that holds up, it’d be tied for Dallas’ fourth-worst offensive performance of the season, according to Cleaning the Glass …

… which means it’s probably a good time to note that the Lakers, who were 18th in defensive efficiency at the time of the Luka/AD trade, have been the NBA’s second-stingiest defense since trading away their best defensive player. Y’know, just like everyone predicted.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 5:10 AM GMT+1

Some first-half stats:

Luka Doncic: 12 points (3-of-8 shooting), 12 rebounds, 7 assists, 2 steals, 2 blocks, 1 turnover
Austin Reaves: 14 points (4-of-7 shooting)
LeBron James: 9 points (3-of-6 shooting), 6 rebounds, 5 turnovers

Kyrie Irving: 18 points (6-of-14 shooting)
Max Christie: 10 points (4-of-9 shooting)
Every other Mavericks player: 23 points (8-of-29 shooting)
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 5:07 AM GMT+1

What was a sizable Lakers lead has been cut to 59-51 after Max Christie made a run on both ends. The Mavs are competitive, it just doesn’t feel like they have enough offense to make the Lakers sweat.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 5:07 AM GMT+1

HALFTIME: Lakers 59, Mavericks 51

A 12-4 run for the Mavericks to end the half cuts the deficit down to single digits. Still got a lot of work to do to spoil the narrative tonight.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 5:01 AM GMT+1

LeBron James now has seven points after nearly a full half, and the Lakers are up by 15. That should scare teams.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:59 AM GMT+1

Luka’s on his way to a first-half triple-double with 12 points, 11 boards and 7 assists. And it feels easy. Also, the chants of “thank you, Nico” are getting louder.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:57 AM GMT+1

Mavericks GM Nico Harrison is in the house and receiving a warm reception.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:56 AM GMT+1

The Mavericks have 39 points in 40 possessions and the guy they weren’t sure they could build around is throwing And1 Mixtape Tour passes for ecstasy-inducing 3s. Outside of that, though, things are going pretty well for Dallas.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:55 AM GMT+1
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:54 AM GMT+1
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM GMT+1

Jason Kidd called Luka a Picasso in the pregame. And Luka just painted an overhead masterpiece of a pass to Reaves for a 3.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:53 AM GMT+1

Luka Doncic just posted one of the sickest assists of the season. He drove and whipped the ball behind his head for a no-look pass to Austin Reaves, who sinks a 3. He’s up to six assists, plus 10 points and nine rebounds.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:50 AM GMT+1

Strong start to the second quarter for Austin Reaves, with a 3, a driving layup and a couple of free throws as well as a couple of nice passes to set Dalton Knecht up for 3 and a dunk to help keep the Lakers in front. If Reaves is supposed to see his role shrink now that Luka’s around, he’s got a funny way of showing it; he’s averaging 20 points and 6.2 assists per game since Luka’s debut.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:48 AM GMT+1
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:48 AM GMT+1

Dallas needs some offense from Washington, who has 5 rebounds but is scoreless so far and has attempted only one shot.

— Brad Townsend (@townbrad) February 26, 2025
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:47 AM GMT+1

Here’s a stat: the Mavericks are 3-for-18 on shots outside the paint. It’s not like they haven’t got decent looks, they’ve just been ice cold.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:45 AM GMT+1
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:43 AM GMT+1

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was introduced to the crowd after the last timeout. Like, we know he was great but somehow he’s become historically underrated over time.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:42 AM GMT+1

Naji Marshall just gave LeBron James a “too small,” which is the kind of thing that might surprise you until you realize that Naji Marshall’s nickname is Knife.
Wed, February 26, 2025 at 4:38 AM GMT+1

That Dallas is down only eight after that first-quarter offensive performance is something of a miracle. Keeping them alive: second chances (seven offensive rebounds) and Laker miscues (six L.A. turnovers, three by LeBron, leading to five Dallas points).